As the headquarters of companies such as Amazon and Microsoft, Seattle has long been a thriving tech city. Now, it seems like technology is bleeding into city sports.
Play was halted for eight minutes during the Seattle Seahawks’ game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday because an unidentified drone was seen flying over Lumen Field. The hiatus itself was odd, but the context behind it makes it downright bizarre: The day before, a game between Stanford and Washington that also took place in Seattle was delayed due to an unidentified drone. No photos are available of the drone at Lumen Field, but here’s a glimpse of it hovering over Husky Stadium during the Stanford-Washington game.
Whoever flies these drones could find themselves in serious trouble. According to FOX 8, flying a drone within three miles of an NFL or MLB stadium during a game in Seattle is an FAA violation and enough to warrant felony charges. For the NFL specifically, a full flight restriction is in place between one hour before kickoff and one hour after the game ends.
Drones have been a problem for the NFL long before this weekend. NFL teams, along with teams from other leagues, have written to Congress on the drone issue, according to Policy.
The hiatus did not help the Seahawks’ comeback bid, as Seattle entered fourth 27-23 and lost by that exact score. No. 18 Washington, meanwhile, outscored Stanford 40-22 on Saturday.